Barbara Bedell: Wallkill prison 'honored' by cardinal's visit

Cardinal Timothy Dolan's visit to the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in the hamlet of Wallkill March 27 was "electric," according to Superintendent Joseph T. Smith.

Barbara Bedell

Cardinal Timothy Dolan's visit to the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in the hamlet of Wallkill March 27 was "electric," according to Superintendent Joseph T. Smith.

"In my 10-plus years as superintendent, I can state without hesitation that the cardinal's visit was the highlight of my tenure," said Smith.

His Eminence toured parts of the facility and conducted Mass for more than 70 inmates and approximately 100 staff.

"During his visit, the cardinal stopped to talk with staff and inmates throughout the facility," said Smith. "His presence was electric. Wherever he went, he left good feelings, smiles and spirituality. We were honored to have him visit."

Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Duncan T. Trueman Chapter 57, will meet at noon today at Monroe Country Club, 63 Still Road in Monroe. The guest speaker is Staff Sgt. Nathan E. McGinnis, a U.S. Marine recruiting officer.

President Eliot S. Hermon is the group president. He can be reached at 283-0408.

Six generations of art by the Gould family of the Hudson Valley is on display at Elant of Goshen until April 29. Robert Gould said it is "a diverse exhibition linking the family in imaginative and skillful work." For information, call 341-8482 or email robert@bethlehemartgallery.com. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Lance Betros will speak on "Carved From Granite but Steeped in Change: West Point and the Making of Leaders" at 7 p.m. today at Marist College's Hancock Center, Room 2023, in Poughkeepsie. A graduate of West Point, Class of 1977, Betros, also a Ph.D., is provost of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pa. "Shabbat — An Island in Time," a dinner event for women only, will be offered at 7 p.m. Friday at the home of Rivka Serebryanski, 845 Little Britain Road, New Windsor. Reservations can be made by calling 565-3816. The West Point Band is hosting a free concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Eisenhower Hall featuring the two winners of the 20th annual Young Artist Solo Competition. They are flautist Amanda Kam and pianist Mirana Stoker.

Stoker is a student at O'Neill High School in Highland Falls. Her father is Lt. Col. Geoffrey Stoker, an instructor in the electrical engineering and computer science department. It's the first time a child of a soldier stationed at West Point has won the competition. Kam attends Millburn High School in New Jersey.

Professor emerita Irene Nunnari returned to Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh recently to conduct a successful workshop on public speaking.

Barbara Bedell's column appears daily. Reach her at 346-3125 or by email: bbedell@th-record.com.